Obituary of Duane Franklin VanVleet

DUANE FRANKLIN VAN VLEET, CENTENNIAL, CO 

Duane F. Van Vleet, 81, died comfortably January 28, 2020, at his home in Centennial, CO. He was born June 18, 1938, in Fort Logan, CO, the youngest son of Edward L. Van Vleet and Elizabeth (Willson) Van Vleet.

Duane graduated from Sheridan Union High School, Class of 1956. Following graduation, he served 4 years in the United States Navy as a Boilerman 2nd Class, stationed aboard the USS Alstede AF – 48, Norfolk, VA. After receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, he began an exceptional 40-year career as a Stationary Engineer at Lockheed Martin (Employee of the Year 1997). Duane married J. Ahniwake Gardner in Colorado Springs, CO; they celebrated 54 years of marriage in September. As a dedicated family man, Duane was a passionate soccer coach (Colorado State Girls Soccer Coach of the Year 1993) and greatly enjoyed lifting weights, gardening and rockhounding. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by siblings Bertha, Vera, Betty, Bethel, Lloyd, and Gerald. Surviving are his wife, Ahniwake (Gardner) Van Vleet, his daughter, Delene Johnston and family, of Grand Junction, CO, his sons Mark Van Vleet and his wife, Carol, of Centennial, CO, sons, Grant Van Vleet and Kyle Van Vleet; Tim Van Vleet, of Aurora, CO; Jack Van Vleet and his wife Annette, of Centennial, CO, sons Cole Van Vleet, Luke Van Vleet, Brett Van Vleet, and daughter Lilly Van Vleet; one brother, Edward Van Vleet Jr., of Redding, CA; many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10th at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236. Following services, a remembrance reception will be held at 7851 S Lafayette Way, Centennial, Colorado 80122.

Those who wish to remember Duane in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the American Cancer Society.